No one allowed to speak against state: acting PHC CJ

Justice Qaiser Rashid chides professor for speaking aggressively

PESHAWAR:

The high court on Monday held that neither citizens nor anyone else had the right to speak against the state.

This was stated by Peshawar High Court (PHC) Acting Chief Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan while hearing a petition filed by a professor accused of posting anti-state messages on microblogging social network Twitter.

The Deputy Attorney General (DAG) argued before the court that the professor had allegedly posted messages against the state. At this, the chief justice remarked that what will be the impact of these messages on the students if a professor says such things.

The chief justice added that a person who lives in a state is bound to follow its laws as well while talking against the state does not suit a teacher.

When the TikTok star Hareem Shah can enter the Foreign Office, the country does not fulfil the definition of a state, DAG said while quoting the infructuous tweet.

At this, Justice Qaiser addressed the petitioner and said that he should not misuse the leniency of the court if he is granted bail.

Justice Rashid then asked the teacher to approach the rostrum. However, the professor took this opportunity and started talking aggressively. This irked the judge who stated that the petitioner does not even know how to talk and calls himself a teacher.

However, the petitioner’s lawyer contended that his client was suffering from high blood pressure as his family has been harassed for a long time.

The court sought an apology from the petitioner and adjourned further hearings until Friday.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24^th, 2020.